Hamnet

Hamlet has a very interesting place in my life. When I was younger, The Lion King was my favorite movie, and eventually I learned that it was somewhat based on Hamlet. But it wasn't until high school when I wrote a paper comparing the two that I actually watched the play (in movie form Hamlet 1996). This became one of my favorites despite its 4 hour runtime. I've even watched it multiple times and I plan to watch it again soon. I knew that Shakespeare's son died before watching this, but I didn't know much else. This movie is based on a book that is based on central events in Shakespeare's life and not necessarily based in fact. That being said, I think it works remarkably well. The character progression of William and Agnes is very believable. Loss of children very often injures marriages, which is heartbreaking to watch. Death itself in movies does not often get me to cry or feel that emotional, but characters reactions to death does. Everyone's grief in this is so real and was grabbing at me. It didn't fully get me though until Agnes watches the performance of Hamlet and tries to physically reach out to the dying Hamlet actor. After that I was a mess. It was then that she finally saw her husband's grief personified and was able to console herself. Endings can make or break a movie for me and this was a good one. Mescal, Buckley, and Jacobi Jupe are all fantastic here. In Noah Jupe's short screen time as Hamlet in the play he performs amazingly. I can't believe this is the Chloe Zhao that directed Eternals. Kevin Feige must pay for his crimes. Biggest cry for me since The Iron Claw. If the stupid Netflix CEO tries to take the theater experience away from me I may have to take matters into my own hands. Seeing this alone in the theater was transcendent.